Northampton Welcomes Newcastle as 2026-27 Prem Rugby Season Kicks Off
Champions Northampton will host Newcastle Red Bulls on the opening day of the 2026-27 Prem rugby season. The Saints secured their title by defeating Exeter to lift the trophy for the second time in three seasons this past June. The new campaign kicks off at home on Friday, 25 September. In addition to Northampton's match, the first weekend features several other exciting fixtures: Exeter Chiefs will welcome Gloucester to Sandy Park on Saturday. Harlequins face Bath at home on Friday. Sale hosts Bristol on Saturday evening. Leicester takes on Saracens in the only match on Sunday. The 2026-27 Prem final is scheduled for Saturday, 19 June 2027 at the Allianz Stadium, Twickenham. This season will see breaks around international fixtures, beginning with five rounds in six weeks through September and October, followed by a four-week break in November for the Nations Championship autumn matches. European competition will kick off in December, with four Prem rounds in six weeks leading up to January. Another pause of ten weeks is set for February and March to accommodate the Six Nations. Significantly, the new season also marks the official scrapping of promotion and relegation within the division. This change formalizes a trend that has seen no club relegated or promoted since Saracens in 2020 and 2021, as part of a broader shift towards a franchise-style model in English rugby, approved in February.
Source: BBC Sport - 2026-07-28